Burbank's 1917 new creations in seeds : and some older ones of special value / Burbank's Experiment Farms ; Luther Burbank.

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Burbanks

1917 NEW CREATI

SEEDS

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1J, S. Department of Agriculture

AND SOME OLDER ONES OF SPECIAL VALUE

ONE OF THE MANY FORMS OF THE NEW SHASTA DAISY

ALL THE SEEDS offered in this List were grown and selected on my own grounds
during 1916 and are of superlative quality

Burbank’s

Experiment LUTHER BURBANK

Farms Santa Rosa, California, U. S. A.

TWO SHASTA DAISIES

Burbank’s 1917 New Creations in Seeds

The Earliest Tomato in the World — The “Burbank”

BY FAR the earliest, smoothest, largest, most productive, and best
of all early tomatoes; resists wilt and other tomato diseases better
than most others. The “Burbank” is so much earlier than other toma-
toes that from the seed of the tomatoes which ripened here in June, a
second crop has been again and again grown and ripened the same
season, something probably never before known. This extreme earli-
ness means millions of dollars to American tomato growers, as one-half
the tomatoes grown in the United States are taken by frost instead of
by the grower.

THE “ BURBANK ” TOMATO

Fruit, bright crimson; thick, smooth, firm, medium to large in size,
superior quality, unusually heavy and continuous bearer throughout
the season; fine keeper and shipper. The “Burbank” has one other
unique and most remarkable quality which will be appreciated by those
who like fresh sliced tomatoes for the table. Unlike other tomatoes,
the skin peels freely from the rich, firm flesh, even when fully ripe.

How to Have Fresh Tomatoes Nearly or Quite Six Months Each
Season Instead of Two or Three

Sow the “BURBANK” Tomato early in a warm, sunny window, hot-
bed, or greenhouse. Transplant when the second set of leaves appear,
into well drained boxes of light, rich soil. As soon as danger of frost

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NEW CREATIONS IN SEEDS

is over, transplant to open ground, setting the plants deep, especially
in dry climates. Tomato roots are generally planted too near the sur-
face and, contrary to general opinion, long, “leggy” plants are better
than the short, stocky ones, if properly planted deep. This method pre-
pares them for long, dry terms and renders them less liable to disease.
In the Fall, before heavy frosts, pull the “Burbank” Tomato vines and
turning them over, pick all sound, green tomatoes and place them only
one deep in a fairly warm room and they will continue to ripen along
as needed until February and will retain their full flavor.

Mr. J. H. Begier, one of the oldest and perhaps the most experienced,
as well as one of the largest growers in the “Bay Region,” reports that
he found the “BURBANK” Tomato fully SIX WEEKS earlier than the
tomatoes before grown in that region.

The “BURBANK” Tomato was very carefully tested last season by
Mr. J. H. Empson, one of the best known and most extensive packers of
extra fine goods in the United States; he writes as follows:

Mr. Luther Burbank,

Santa Rosa, Calif. :

Longmont, Colorado, Nov. 7th, 1916.

Dear Mr. Burbank — I thought you might be interested to learn how
your new Tomato came out in this section of the country. We planted
the seed you sent us and grew just as many plants as we could from it.
We planted that seed exactly the same day we planted seed from
Chalk’s Early Jewell, and we put them in the same field, in exactty the
same kind of soil.

We picked the first ripe tomatoes from your vines on the 19th day of
August; from Chalk’s Early Jewell on the 26th day of August. After
that we picked tomatoes from each kind — your vines and the C. E. J. —
every time the same date.

On August 31st we had picked from your vines 7,663 lbs.

From the C. E. J. vines 2,756 lbs.

On September 12th we had picked from your vines 13,072 lbs.

From the C. E. J. vines 7,478 lbs.

We finished picking your vines September 30th and had a

total for the season of 20,234 lbs.

On same date from C. E. J. vines we had total .... 13,122 lbs.

There were exactly the same number of vines in each patch.

Your Tomato is certainly the Tomato for this section, where we have
early frost. The color is good and the quality is good. We have saved
seed from the earliest and choicest ones for next year and will plant a
number of acres next year where we can test them more fully. I shall
not be surprised to get even better results, as I have found that seeds
produced in Colorado almost invariably give better results than those
grown outside the State. Yours sincerely,

J. H. EMPSON.

NEW CREATIONS IN SEEDS

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While the “BURBANK” Tomato ripens at Santa Rosa more than a
week ahead of all other tomatoes, it may seem strange that it should
ripen only a week earlier than the earliest Tomato in the Colorado
climate, while in the San Francisco Bay Region it ripens six weeks
earlier; the bright, clear sunshine of high altitudes forwards plants
much more rapidly than when growing in the moist, cool air and low
altitudes near the ocean. These facts only go to prove that the “Bur-
bank” is the earliest everywhere.

Burbank Tomato Seed — 1916 Selection

Per packet of 100 seeds, 25c; three, 50c; ten packets, $1.25.

A New Creation in Corn — “Sorghum Pop”

Our common corn, Zea Mays, has shown a wonderful adaptability to
various soils and climates and also to the various uses for which it is
grown, much more so than any other grass or grain. Next to it in varia-
bility are the Sorghums, which include the various Kaffir corns, broom
corns, and annual sugar canes. These are two very distinct species, one
of which is a native of Africa, the other of America, and there is
no record of any new variety having been produced by crossing. Five
years ago, after numerous trials, a few kernels were produced on an
ear of Burpee’s improved Stowell’s Evergreen Sweet Corn, from pollen
of the white “goose neck” Kaffir Corn. These precious kernels were
carefully planted one by one the next season and all but two were
Stowell’s Evergreen to all intents and purposes, but two ripened weeks
earlier and were almost true Kaffir corns with compact, crooked, droop-
ing “heads,” containing many scattering hard, round kernels, also bear-
ing “goose neck” drooping ears, somewhat resembling popcorn. The next
season all were planted and a new corn , in many respects resembling

SORGHUM POPCORN

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NEW CREATIONS IN SEEDS

white rice popcorn, but with more nearly globular kernels was pro-
duced, but the ears were branched or “many fingered” and bore kernels,
not only on the outside, but on the inside of the ears, producing an
enormous number of kernels to the cluster. As these had to be crushed
to obtain the corn, selections were made of short “stubby” ears which
bore kernels only on the outside.

We now offer this most wonderful of all corns, and you will find it
early, quite uniform, a superior yielder, and one of the best, if not the
best, popping corn known. It pops out pure white, sweet, and with a
whirlwind vehemence. This amazing production is of great interest,
not only to growers, but also to botanists.

Packet of 100 seeds, 50c; ounce, $1; pound, $8.

New Giant White Seeded Sunflower — “Manteca”

In 1909 sunflower seed was grown in the United States to the amount
of 63,677 bushels. Last season there was shipped out of one California
town by one buyer, 1275 Tons, for which $76,000 was paid to the growers.
Sunflower seed is used for feed and for oil. All sunflower seed has
heretofore been black, brown, or striped. “Manteca” was produced
on my place several years ago by crossing the well known Black seeded
double California sunflower with the Giant Russian, which has black
striped seeds. The result was, after many years of careful selection,
“ MANTECA r which is a greatly improved PURE WHITE SEEDED
Giant Russian, which produces enormous single heads on short stalks,
instead of the usual big and little mongrel heads on tall, unsightly stalks
so generally grown. No grower of any other kind can ever compete
with this enormously productive Snow White variety. It will trans-
form the business as the Burbank Potato has transformed the potato
business.

Packet, 15c; ounce plump seeds, 25c; pound, $1; five pounds, $4.

Potato Seed

One of the most interesting of all garden pursuits is the growing of
Potato seedlings, especially as a new prize potato may be produced by
any one, whether skilled or not. The seed which I offer is from the
very best English, Scotch, Norway, Sweden, German, North and South
American varieties. Maine, California, New Mexico, Washington, and
Oregon seed is included in this remarkably varied and superior lot of
seed. Seedlings of all forms, sizes, qualities, and colors will be obtained.
Directions for growing are printed on each packet of seed.

Packet, 15c; two, 25c; ten, $1.

NEW CREATIONS IN SEEDS

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A New Hybrid Cucumber — “Iceland”

The “Lemon” Cucumber, a native of Central America, is a quite dis-
tinct species from the common long green cucumbers so universally
grown. It is small and not a good form for slicing, yet the quality is so
superior that it is grown more and more extensively each season for
home use. By crossing this species with Burpee’s long snow-white
cucumber, sent out a few years ago, a new and wholly distinct strain
has been produced, which surpasses all other cucumbers in crispness
and delicacy of flavor and is of very large size and astonishingly pro-
ductive. In the combination of these good qualities it is unequaled by
any other cucumber. You wall probably have more fun raising and

THE NEW HYBRID— LEMON— SNOW WHITE

eating these cucumbers than anything else in the garden, and I hereby
offer five dollars for the largest one sent me and five dollars for the
most unique one.

Price per packet of fifty seeds, 50c; three packets, $1.

The New Bantam Corn

The early Bantam Sweet Corn, introduced by W. Atlee Burpee & Com-
pany several years ago, is quite universally known as the best of all
early sweet corns. The ears are short and only eight rows to the ear.
By most rigid selection for eight years I have produced an Early Ban-
tam more uniform in all respects, more productive, and with TWELVE
ROWS of corn to each ear.

Packet, 25c; ounce, 40c; pound, $3.

I also offer an improved eight-rowed strain. Packet, 15c; ounce, 30c;
pound, $1.25.

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NEW CREATIONS IN SEEDS

Rainbow Corn

The leaves of this beautiful corn are variegated with bright crimson,
yellow, white, green, rose, and bronze stripes. A really wonderful deco-
rative plant, as easily grown as any common corn and is fully equal in
beauty to the most expensive greenhouse draccenas.

Packet, 10c; ounce, 20c; pound, 60c.

Improved Field Bean

The common white navy or Boston bean is the best and most popular
of all field beans. The one here offered is earlier, far more uniform
in growth and time of ripening, and is nearly or quite twice as pro-
ductive as the common variety.

Packet, 10c; pound, 35c; ten pounds, $3.

Improved Detroit Red Beet

Best for home use.

Packet, 10c; ounce, 20c; one-fourth pound, 60c.

Popcorn — “Pure Gold”

Unusually productive. Long slender ears. The kernels pop white
and larger than other kinds.

Packet, 10c; pound, 30c; three pounds, 75c.

1 The Sunberry

The true Burbank Sunberry is an annual berry plant of the easiest
culture, thriving best on rather poor soil. The berries are almost exactly
like the large, sweet huckleberries of the Eastern states. The plants
bear enormous quantities of berries which are highly prized for cooking,
canning, etc. Grown and treated same as tomato plants, but with much
less care. The Sunberry is especially prized in the cold North and in
hot desert countries where other berries do not thrive.

Packet, 15c; ounce, 40c.

California Field Corn

A short stalked, extremely productive yellow field corn which has
been under selection for productiveness for many years.

Packet, 10c; pound, 25c.

NEW CREATIONS IN SEEDS

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Select Rice Popcorn

By careful selection this has been made more uniform, earlier, and
more productive.

Packet, 15c; pound, 35c.

Big Boston Lettuce

None superior for home growing or market.

Packet, 10c; ounce, 25c.

Moss Curled Parsley

Reselected extra fine curled.

Packet, 10c.

The White Cucumber

One of the very best for home use.

Packet, 10c; ounce, 20c; pound, $1.50.

Orache or Mountain Spinach

Early and as hardy as the common spinach. Grows four to six feet
in height.

Packet, 10c.

Hubbard Squash

Packet, 10c; ounce, 15c; pound, $1.25.

BURBANK FRUITING CACTUS

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NEW CREATIONS IN SEEDS

Flower Seeds

Bidens Dahloides

A beautiful new tuberous type of Cosmos-like flowers, produced from
the “Black Dahlia.” The plants bloom abundantly the first season from
seed and may be kept over and divided like Dahlias. These charming
plants grow about eighteen inches in height, and produce large, graceful,
white, black, red, and pink flowers on long, slender, wiry stems all
Summer. One of the best of all the absolutely new plants.

Packet, 25c; three, 50c.

Cocoanut Geranium

This new Geranium from West Australia in foliage much resembles
the well-known fragrant Rose Geranium, but is low growing and com-
pact, with unusually handsome crenate leaves. The whole plant has a
most delicious, strong cocoanut fragrance. The best of its class and
useful as single specimen or in borders.

Packet, 20c; three, 50c.

AUSTRALIAN STAR FLOWER

NEW CREATIONS IN SEEDS

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New Australian Star Flower

The most graceful and beautiful of all the everlastings. Annual;
height one foot. Purest shades of rose, pink, and pearly white.

Packet, 25c.

The New Red Sunflower

You will be surprised with the beauty of this new and highly selected
strain.

Packet, 10c; three, 25c.

Sweet Peas “All Summer” Mixed

A new strain produced by crossing the dwarf greenhouse varieties
with the Spencer type.

Packet, 10c; ounce, 15c; pound, $1.

Dimorpotheca— New Hybrids

These most beautiful “African Daisies” are grown most easily any-
where; are hardy over most of California and, like our Eschscholtzia,
bloom all Summer and more or less all Winter and early Spring. The
colors are wonderful; pale and bright yellow, orange, salmon, rosy
salmon, reddish yellow, cream, and white.

Packet, 20c; four, 50c.

Hunnemannia

The Mexican “Golden Cup” is a more brilliant golden yellow and
grows more shrubby than our native; blooms all Summer, and the
flowers, when cut, keep open and fresh for a week or more.

Packet, 15c; two, 25c.

Celosia Plumosa

Like graceful ostrich plumes of many beautiful shades.

Packet, 10c.

Gladiolus — Burbank’s Hybrids

These seeds have and will produce many new prize varieties of all
sizes, shapes, and colors; saved from fully 100,000 varieties.

Packet of 100 seeds, 25c; 1000 seeds, $2; 10,000 seeds, $10.

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NEW CREATIONS IN SEEDS

Whitlavia

A beautiful native of the mountains. Annual. Large, deep blue flowers
in abundance all Summer.

Packet, 10c; three, 25c.

Burbank’s Hybrid Larkspur

Well known by florists and seedsmen as the most beautiful strain.
Packet, 25c; three, 50c.

LARKSPUR

Burbank’s “Mayflower” Verbena

By both European and American growers known as the best selected
and most fragrant strain.

Packet, 10c; three, 25c.

ANNOUNCEMENT

Santa Rosa, Cal., U. S. A.,
July 1st, 1916.

HE VALUE and importance of improved nuts, fruits,

forest and shade trees, grains, grasses, and flowers
to the World perhaps needs no proof, yet is fully proven
by the thousands of Californian, Australian, New Zealand,
South African, South American, and other homes', whose
owners will be glad to tell you that they owe much of
their value and beauty to the Burbank productions.
Millions of bushels of Burbank vegetables and train loads
of fruits annually transported by rail and sea also attest
to their value.

Mr. Burbank has devoted the past forty-five years to
the production of these new varieties, but found the great
and exacting care and attention required in their pro-
duction, left him too little time for their distribution .
He therefore welcomed the opportunity which was pre-
sented to him four years ago by the formation of the
Luther Burbank Company, through which he believed it
would be possible for him to devote all his efforts and
attention to the creative work and not be burdened by
the commercial part of the business.

While Mr. Burbank during this period has continued
his experimental work and creative development with
marked success, yet, through the inexperience of the

manager, the commercial and distributive plans of the
Company were not successful.

Mr. Burbank therefore terminated his contract with the
Company, which is no longer in existence. AND NO
PERSON OR CORPORATION IS AUTHORIZED TO USE
HIS NAME.

It has been established that the personal and direct
supervision of Mr. Burbank is essential, not only because
of his knowledge of the products themselves, but because
of his familiarity and acquaintance with the history and
adaptability of these products to different soils and cli-
mates.

Therefore, thousands of his old customers will be
pleased to know that he has decided to resume his former
custom of distributing his products direct to the public
from Santa Bosa, and that customers will again be served
with the same old-time promptness, accuracy, and gen-
erosity which have always characterized his dealings.
Nearly a year must elapse, however, before a sufficient
stock can be produced to supply the inevitable demands.

IMPORTANT

Our mailing lists are being revised. The names of those
who do not order from this season’s catalogues, or at least
send in their names for future catalogues and lists, must
be dropped from our mailing list.

Burbank’s Experiment Farms,
Santa Bosa, Cal., U. S. A.

NEW CREATIONS IN SEEDS

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Dahlias

Dahlia seedlings from my seed have taken many prizes and several of
the best standard varieties have originated from it.

Giant single mixed: Pale lemon, deep yellow, white and crimson.

Packet, 15c; two, 25c.

Double mixed: Packet, 15c; two, 25c.

Shasta Daisy

Most carefully selected and best mixture ever offered of this most
popular flower.

Packet, 15c; two, 25c.

Burbank Shirley Poppies

This beautiful strain has been carefully selected each season for more
than twenty years and is the foundation for many of the strains offered
by other seedsmen.

Packet, 15c; two, 25c.

Giant Zinnia

Burbank selection. Enormous flowers of various colors all Summer.

Packet, 10c; three, 25c.

The Burbank Dwarf Zinnias

New. Charming brilliant red and yellow shades of most perfect
doubles.

Packet, 10c; three, 25c.

California Poppies (Eschscholtzia)

Most beautiful selection of large white, pink, crimson, yellow, and the
new flame shades.

Packet, 10c; three, 25c.

Perennial Pea

The Burbank strain raised here for a third of a century is not sur-
passed in abundance and size of flowers, length of stem, or variety of
shades. A packet of seeds will supply flowers for a score of years.

Packet, 15c; two, 25c.

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NEW CREATIONS IN SEEDS

Tulip Poppy

The most intensely brilliant crimson of all the poppies. Annual.
Packet, 15c; two, 25c.

Sweet Scabious

To those who have not grown the new Scabious, the soft lavender,
blue, pink and white shades will be a surprise and delight. Easily grown
annual; especially fine for cutting.

Packet, 10c; three, 25c.

All of the varieties of popular flowers named below are of my own
selection and growing.

Price, 10c per packet; three packets, 25c; ten packets, 50c.

AUSTRALIAN GOOSEBERRY GOURD

Argemone: Prickly poppy. New mixed colors.

Cosmos: Early, mixed colors.

Cosmos: Large, late, mixed colors.

Calendula (Winter Marigold) : Wonderful new Giant Doubles.
Cactus: Thornless varieties mixed.

Canterbury Bell: Handsome biennials.

Coreopsis Lanceolata: Brilliant, yellow, free blooming.
Coreopsis Golden Wave: Select, extra.

Centaur ea Marguerite: Like Carnations.

Glaucium Hybrids: Various shades.

Australian Gooseberry Gourd: Ornamental climber.

NEW CREATIONS IN SEEDS

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BURBANK SEEDLING DAHLIAS

COREOPSIS LANCEOLATA GRANDIFLORA

Hypericum: The great golden variety.

Marigold: Lemon Ball.

Marigold: Orange Ball.

Burbank Giant Crimson Morning Glory.

Morning Glory: Giant white.

Morning Glory: Bed, white and blue mixed.
Nasturtium: Dwarf mixed.

Verbena: Scarlet.

Verbena: White.

Verbena: Mixed.

Hibiscus: Giant new varieties.

(cultural directions on packets.)

Hazeltine Hand Weeder

No garden tool will save more hand weeding than this splendid tool.
By Mail, 25c; three, 50c.

CACTUS BLOOMS